Aquaponics update

Plants

Are doing well. Perhaps a little too well — it's getting hard to see the vegetables for the jungle!

So far we've eaten: more green onions, several small strawberries, a bunch of lettuce and spinach, and two green beans. Coming up: more beans, some peas, and the tomatoes all have blossoms!

Equipment

Added battery backup for airpump, float valve for water pump. If power goes out (or gets unplugged by a young child), or a water pipe comes loose, these should give me a bit of extra protection against full fishdaster.

I'm pleased, but also not very proud, to report that the UPS does detect and avoid electrocuting those who pour water into its top vents.

My parents visited recently, so I enlisted my dad to do some heavy duty carpentry for the next set of grow beds. Still need to finish the plumbing and chase out some leaks (and wash a bunch more gravel) but "phase 2" is starting to come together.

Fish

Added tilapia.
Twice.

Apparently, while my cursory research indicated that goldfish were mild and not likely to bother tilapia, however my search terms did not specify just how small of tilapia I was worried about. Apparently goldfish, while not terribly aggressive, do not mind small tasty snacks.

So the second set is currently growing out in their own bucket, while a small handful of tilapia survivors are managing to rapidly catch up in the "goldfish" tank.